The conduct of the governorship and House of Assembly elections did not go on Saturday without some taint of violence in a couple of places in Delta state.
Although the exercise had been adjudged as peaceful and orderly in the earlier hours of its conduct, the story would not end like that as in some areas in Ughelli North and Isoko North council areas of the state.
The Nation gathered that the peace of the process was halted at a polling unit in Afiesere community in Ughelli North when an agent of one of the political parties started making moves to sway voters on the queue to vote for his party.
In the ensuing fracas, two members of the APC were reported badly injured and later taken to the hospital for medical attention.
Also, there was drama at Iyede Unit 8, Ward 2, Isoko North LGA as both APC and PDP supporters clashed over allegation of manipulation of the voting process. Electoral observers and journalists sighted in the unit were chased away from the ward.
At Iyede ward 2, Unit 3, the polling unit was chaotic as some party agents alleged that PDP thugs chased away APC agents and supporters and other party’s supporters from the unit. One of APC agent who gave his name as Clement Omoemu, alleged he was badly manhandled and chased away with security agents turning blind eye.
There was tension in Otorho community, Abraka, Ethiope East council area of Delta state, over alleged snatching of ballot papers.
The member representing Ethiope East House of Assembly, Hon Evance Ivwurie, made the allegation in Eroh, another community in the area, after casting his votes in unit 6, ward 2.
Calling for the cancellation of votes in unit 2, ward 2, were thugs reportedly invaded and snatched the materials, the lawmaker pointed out that the action has scared electorates away from exercising their franchise.
Meanwhile, an APC chieftain in the state, Comrade Johnson Avwode, has called on the INEC and security agents to come to the aid of his party in the state as PDP leaders are allegedly involved in massive rigging, intimidation and vote buying across the state.
He said, in the home town of former Delta State Governor Chief James Onanefe Ibori, scores of youths belonging to the ruling APC have set bonfires in parts of Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area in protest of hijacked materials by a notable PDP chief.
At Okpe council area, there were reports of alleged multiple thumb printing and voting by the PDP. And at Abraka and Udu LGA, there was joyous mood as the All Progressives Congress where leading.
At Beneku community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, journalists were barred from gaining entrance into the community.
The situation at Oleh according to another APC leader reported that PDP Leaders are seen distributing voters card to unregistered members of not voting age to do multiple voting, he also said intimidation of voters by thugs was going on around Oleh Market.
Meanwhile, in Ward 1 and 2 in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State , voters were reportedly barred from going to the riverine area to cast their votes as massive rigging was alleged to be going on by one of the parties.
And at Ekrerhanvwe community, voters were seen casting their votes peacefully, as Stella Okotete hailed the electoral process in the community and advice all to exercise their franchise.
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